Three Houses: Phiarlan, Thuranni and Sivis

The Shadow Houses

During the Last War, there was a schism between those who bear the Mark of Shadow. The Phairlan family had been the ruling House for centuries, but in the chaos of the Last War, the Thuranni family gained enough power to challenge the status quo. There are now two Houses who claim to be the rulers of Shadow.

House Phairlan controls the Entertainers and Artisans Guild, which moves throughout Khorvaire entertaining the rich and powerful, as well as the common people. The bards and entertainers of the Guild are highly sought after by the members of the noble houses in every nation. And the arrival of a Phairlan Carnival in any town is a cause for huge celebration.

House Thuranni is a smaller organization, but is more aggressive in trying to expand its influence. It only declared its independence 25 years ago, but has found welcome sponsors in the nations of Karrnath, Droaam, Q’barra and the Lhazaar Principalities.

Aerdane d’Lyrandar let you know that while openly House Phiarlan and House Thuranni are “entertainers and artisans”, most suspect that their true power lies in the ability to mingle easily in all levels of society and learn the secrets of kings and queens, crime lords and beggars.

Note of interest, Lord Malacoda’s family name is Phairlan.

House Sivis

Using natural talent and the Mark of Scribing, the Gnomes of House Sivis have established themselves as the masters of the written and spoken word, which has allowed them a virtual monopoly on the exchange of information across Khorvaire.

House Sivis scribes in the Notaries Guild use arcane mark to authenticate legal documents. They perform transcription, translation, bookkeeping and copying of texts. Members of the Speakers Guild serves as diplomats and negotiators across Khorvaire. They also maintain the messaging stations through which, for a price, a message can be sent from one station to any other station in Khorvaire.

Aerdane d’Lyrandar let you know that House Sivis has spread to every corner of Khorvaire, and there is very little information which does not flow through their House in one way or another.

High Noon

When Geoffery the Pale took the mysterious chest back to his cart, he spent some time consulting with the contents of the cart, muttering to himself and waving his hands about in obviously arcane gestures. When he returned to the group, he let them know that while the first ASYLM scouts should arrive when “the constellation of Tiamat is in its apex” (around midnight), the bulk of the fighting forces should not arrive until “the sun is highest in the sky”.

While Vergus has said he would like to return to Sharn as soon as possible, it is obvious that since he was part of the group responsible for bringing the Cloud Ant down, he does not want to return to Sharn on the Cloud Ant with a member of House Lyrandar. He has been casting furtive glances at the horses since they were unloaded from the Cloud Ant.

Out of Game: No one has told Aerdane d’Lyrandar that Vergus was part of the force that took down the Cloud Ant, correct? As far as Aerdane knows, Vergus is a member of your group, sent by Geoffery the Pale to rescue him and the cargo.

Geoffery the Pale has been watching Vergus with interest, but has not yet asked any of the party members about the guilty looking Dwarf or the charred corpse he seems to be guarding.

Return to Haven-Fara

Hey Gang, here are a few notes on today’s game.

Nux “Two Thuds” jumps overboard when things got tough.

Vergus almost died, but Dymphna brought him back from the brink.

Dymphna shows her bear side. Shocking!

The party manges to defeat sixteen Dolgrims, two Dolgrues and one Dolgaunt, and save the mysterious chest.

Aerdane is thankful for your aid, and gives you a ride back to Haven-Fara, where he is promptly knocked out by “an accidental potion mix up”. Could happen to anyone!

Geoffery the Pale claims the mysterious chest, and identifies a few magic items.

Current time is 4:30 pm on Wir, the 15th of Zayantyr. Your best estimate is that the refugees should start arriving in the Cursed Field around 2:00 am.

For Next Time:

Haven-Fara locals want to know how they can help. A couple ideas are to fix up the Cloud Ant (which will help get on Aerdane’s good side) and prepare defenses in the Cursed Field.

Vergus would like to return to Sharn as soon as possible with the body of his apprentice, Ted (which somehow got loaded on to the Cloud Ant).

Finally, you all could use eight hours of shuteye to heal and regain spells, which would move the time up to 12:30 or 1:00 am on the 16th of Zayantyr. Westin, the current leader of Haven-Fara, and Arianne are happy to discuss any plans you have and make them happen while you are resting.

The Quick, The Dead and The Missing

I know you have been wondering, “What ever happened to those members of my old platoon?” Well, here is your chance to catch up.

 

The Quick
Tombor Auchentoshen – dwarf fighter
Daenerys Targaryen – female human sorcerer/ninja
Coriell Sunburst – male elf ranger
Rafad the Orphan – male half-elf rogue
Dymphna- female gnome druid
Theodrus Pallanus – male human cleric of Boccob

 

Lord Malacoda Phiarlan – male elf aristocrat (member of the Council): new de facto leader of the ASYLM refugees

Lev Kirn – squirrel-kin rogue (member of the Council; leader of rogues’ guild) : ASLYM’s senior rogue

Ariel Crystalvox – female human priest of Pelor (ran the Shelter for Broken Minds, where those driven mad by the coming Horror are treated): ASYLM’s senior cleric (Pelor)

Captain Marco “Pounder” Pardesh – male bugbear fighter (city guard captain): now head of refugee security

Tox – female kobold fighter (Tox can’t wait to get out of ASYLM and return to family lands in the Eldeen Reaches): headed northern exploration group

Victor Saint-Demain – male human swashbuckler (Victor wanted to be on the front lines): assigned to refugee security

Rene De Lyair – male drow wizard (Rene is not happy about serving under a bugbear, and does not conceal this fact): assigned to refugee security

Peri Umdeng – female tiefling rogue (Peri wants to find out if any of her family in the islands to the east has survived): headed western exploration group

Lodar Oreknocker – dwarf artificer (Lodar longs to return to the dwarven strongholds in the north): headed eastern exploration group

 

The Dead

Makachaka Stonebrew – male dwarf warrior (one of two architects of ASYLM; deceased? He led the charge with the Dol siblings against the Horror of the Golden Gate – See the History of ASYLM)

Latta Ironclaw – female elf wizard (one of two architects of ASYLM; head of the Council): died fighting the Horror

Harkanus – male minotaur cleric of ROM (member of the Council; praise ROM): died at the Silver Gate

Math De Poclan – male human wizard (member of the Council; leader of mages’ guild): died at the Silver Gate

Milphane – female shifter druid (member of the Council; leader of druid circle): died at the Silver Gate

Eldara Lilybrook – female human aristrocrat (deceased; daughter of Audry Lilybrook): killed (twice now) by Tombor on Latta’s Bridge

Parne Anderhoff – male human (deceased, involved in the Render’s missing corpse case): turned into Zombie, and killed again on Latta’s Bridge

Torkan Anderhoff – male human (deceased, involved in the Render’s missing corpse case): turned into Zombie, and killed again on Latta’s Bridge

Grolan Stronginthearm – dwarf weapon smith (one of the ASYLM quartermasters): died in his store

Munch Boneknuckle - male orc fighter (Munch is looking forward to opening a pub back in the Shadow Marshes): died defending ASYLM

Rok Grigdush – male hobgoblin fighter (Rok longs to taste the sea air he has heard so much about from the bards): died defending ASYLM

Dak – female changeling rogue (Dak can not wait to be free to roam across the land, free as the winds of the plains): died defending ASYLM

Kaev Jorka – female shifter ranger (Kaev only wishes to see a forest under an open sky for once): died defending ASYLM

 

The Missing

Rau Mok – male half-orc cleric of St. Cuthbert (member of the Council): last seen fighting at the Silver Gate, presumed dead

Moxie Rumblekopf – female goblin alchemist (member of the Council; leader of alchemists’ guild): last seen fighting at the Silver Gate, presumed dead

Audry Lilybrook – female human aristrocrat (grieving mother): mother of Eldara, missing

Antonal Telthin – male human playwright (suspected thrall of the Horror of the Silver Gate): playwright/thrall of King in Yellow, missing

Vander Anderhoff – male human (eldest Anderhoff brother; missing and wanted for questioning related to the Render’s missing corpse case): eldest Anderhoff brother, may have been spotted in refugee camp, currently missing

Kinto Anderhoff – male human (youngest Anderhoff brother; missing and wanted for questioning related to the Render’s missing corpse case): youngest Anderhoff brother, missing

Lothan – male mountain troll barbarian (Lothan would like to see a waterfall): mountain troll member of your platoon, presumed dead

House Lyrandar

That was a damn good summary, Tombor!  Thank you.  I just wanted to clear up a few points.  First, I am pretty sure that Coriell is a male, not a female, but I have never checked under the hood.  I know that to Dwarves like yourself, all the Elves look pretty feminine, but you might want to check which door Coriell uses next time you find a bathroom area in the dungeon.

Second, Captain Aerdane is a Half-Elf.  All Dragonmarked members of House Lyrandar are Half-Elves.  Humans and Elves can not manifest the Mark of House Lyrandar, only Half-Elves (or Half-Humans, if you like).  Captain is the only surviving member of the Cloud Ant’s crew.  You saw the remains of a few other people in House Lyrandar gear as the Captain was fixing up the Cloud Ant.

Oh, and finally, the one who yelled out, “It’s a Dolgaunt!” was Captain Aerdane.  He seemed pretty damn frightened.

Until we game again, I remain,

Dr. Nobody